Top 50 things everyone should do by the age of 50

Researchers have identified the top 50 things everyone should do before they turn 50 - such as getting a tattoo, seeing the Northern Lights - and having sex on the beach.

While many expect to have fallen in love, got married, bought a house and had children by the time they reach the big 5-0, Brits aged over 50 also think you should have learned a second language, quit a job and gone skinny dipping.

Staying out all night partying, jumping into a pool fully clothed and learning to say ‘no’ to your mother also made the list. It also emerged less than four in 10 over 50s have accomplished all of their life aims, with another 39 per cent believing life really does begin at 50.

Researchers have identified the top 50 things everyone should do before they turn 50 - such as getting a tattoo, seeing the Northern Lights - and having sex on the beach.

While many expect to have fallen in love, got married, bought a house and had children by the time they reach the big 5-0, Brits aged over 50 also think you should have learned a second language, quit a job and gone skinny dipping.

Staying out all night partying, jumping into a pool fully clothed and learning to say ‘no’ to your mother also made the list.

It also emerged less than four in 10 over 50s have accomplished all of their life aims, with another 39 per cent believing life really does begin at 50.

The study, of 2,000 over 50s carried out with OnePoll, found buying a house is top of the list of things to do before you turn 50, followed by having children, getting married, falling in love and eating fish and chips on the pier.

Donating blood, reading 100 books, seeing your favourite band or musician live, learning a language and attending a music festival completed the top ten.

Other things every 50-year-old should have experienced include travelling somewhere alone, sleeping out underneath the stars and swimming with dolphins.

Travel features heavily in the list including seeing a volcano, riding a gondola in Venice, backpacking across Europe and visiting all seven continents

But there is also a rebellious streak in many Brits with taking part in a protest, getting a tattoo and trying drugs all in the top 50.

Some over 50s have gone one step further with the experiences they have had in their lives so far with one being among one of the first female priests to be ordained while another has foiled a bank raid.

One adventurous over 50 also described how they got a ferry to France with just a sleeping bag and spent three years travelling around Europe while another got engaged the day they met their partner.

Having sex in usual places are also among the weird things over 50s have done, including at a bus stop, in a cave and even at a rubbish dump.

Ian Atkinson, director of marketing for over 50s insurance experts SunLife, said: “For many, 50 is a milestone age when you may start to look back and take stock of everything you have done or achieved so far.

“And while most people want to be married and settled down in their home with a family, there are also a host of other activities and experiences they want to have tried.

“But with many believing 50 is the point where your life is just getting started, there is still plenty of time to tick more things off the list if you are coming up a little short.”